Tzaneen, Limpopo. More specifically, Mbhekwana Village.
Away from the “hustle and bustle” of city life. Where my family is. Home.
It’s taken me some years to see it this way, but now that I do it’s helped me to gain perspective on life.
Just because I grew up in the city doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate “country life”. Sure, up until late last year, I had to get used to less luxuries: no DStv, weak Internet signal, sweltering heat… all things that made me appreciate what I had here in the “city” a lot more.
Now we have DStv, running water and Airconditioning. The signal is still weak, but people at Mbhekwana aren’t really concerned with technology. They’d much rather pull up a chair under the tree and chat with neighbours and passers-by.
It’s a completely different life, and it’s a life which- although I’m not ready to immerse myself completely in it- I’m willing to accept.
It could be good for me to remember that back home living is easy and stress free while I’m stressing out and “fitting in” at school up in “the city”.
I’ll never admit it to my dad, because I always kick up a fuss and do some proper sulking whenever we have to leave, but it’s actually fun. Ish. 🙂
Nkhensani Manabe 